CHAPTER 20
The Huge Tree
Chuang Tzu was walking through the heart of the mountains when he saw a huge verdant tree. A woodcutter stopped beside the tree, but did not cut it. When asked why he didn’t he said, ‘It’s no good.’ Chuang Tzu said, ‘Because this tree is not considered useful, it can follow all the years Heaven has given it.’
The Master came out of the mountains and stayed a night at a friend’s house. This man was delighted and told his son to kill a goose and cook it. The son answered, saying, ‘One goose can cackle, the other one can’t. Tell me which one to prepare?’ The father replied, ‘Prepare the one that does not cackle.’
On the next day Chuang Tzu’s followers asked him, ‘Yesterday there was a tree in the heart of the mountains which was able to live all the years Heaven gives because it is no use. Now, at your friend’s house, there is a goose who dies because it is no use. Teacher, what do you think of this?’
Chuang Tzu laughed and said, ‘Personally, I’d find a position between useful and useless. This position between useful and useless might seem a good position, but I tell you it is not, for trouble will pursue you. It would certainly not be so, however, if you were to mount upon the Virtue of the Tao;
‘never certain, never directed,
never praised, never condemned,
on the one hand a dragon, on the other a snake,
going as it seems appropriate.
Now up, now down,
using harmony as your guide,
floating on the source of all life.
‘Let things be, but don’t allow things to treat you as just an object, then you cannot be led into difficulties! This is the path taken by Shen Nung and the Yellow Emperor. Now, however, because of the multitudinous varieties of species and the ethical codes of humanity, things certainly aren’t what they were!
‘There is unity only in order to divide;
fulfilment only in order to collapse;
a cutting edge is blunted;
those who are elevated are overthrown;
ambition is thwarted;
the wise are conspired against;
the fools are conned.
‘So what can be trusted? My followers, just the Tao and its Virtue!’
I Liao78 from the Southern Market came to see the Marquis of Lu.79 The Marquis had a very troubled expression.
‘Why does the ruler look so anxious?’ said the Master of the Southern Market.
‘I have studied the Tao of the first kings and the methods of the first rulers,’ replied the Marquis of Lu. ‘I honour the ghosts and worthy people, try to follow them and never depart from them. But nevertheless I cannot avoid failure, so yes, I am anxious.’
The Master from the Southern Market said, ‘Marquis, your method for avoiding troubles is pretty feeble! The elegant, fur-dressed fox and the graceful snow leopard live in the mountain forests: this is where they are at peace. At night they set off but during daylight they stay at home, being cautious. It is hunger and thirst that drives them out one by one, after careful planning, to find food beside the rivers and lakes. Nevertheless, they do not avoid the misfortune of falling into traps and nets. Who is to blame? Their own fur is to blame. Now, the country of Lu, is this not the fur of the ruler? Cast away this body, get rid of the fur, cleanse your heart, scorn the passions and go where there is no one. In Nan Yueh there is a place called Virtuously Founded. In that country the people are fools, caring little for themselves, wanting little. They know how to produce, but not how to preserve; they give away, but expect nothing back; they don’t know righteousness or what ritual requires. They are ill-mannered, careless and take no care how they proceed, and as a result they don’t walk the way of the great skill. At birth they are happy, at death they celebrate. So I say to you, O ruler, cast aside your country, break with tradition and, helped by the Tao, travel on.’
‘To follow the road there is both long and arduous,’ said the Marquis, ‘with some rivers and mountains to cross. I have neither a boat nor a carriage, so what should I do?’
The Master of the Southern Market replied, ‘Ruler, don’t follow form, don’t follow convention and this will be your carriage.’
‘The road is dark and long and there are no people along it. Who will accompany me? I have no rations, I have nothing to eat, so how can I follow the path to perfection?’
‘Have simple needs, Sir, diminish your desires, Sir, then you can step out without any rations,’ said the Master of the Southern Market. ‘O ruler, you will be able to cross rivers and float upon the ocean, which, no matter how hard you stare, you will never see the end of, nor know where it goes. O Sir, those who bid you farewell will depart from the seashore while the ruler will journey out into the unknown!’
‘The one who has responsibility for others always faces difficulties, and those who are recognized by others as their ruler also suffer. This is why Yao never had responsibility or allowed others to own him. Therefore, ruler, I suggest you get rid of difficulties, cast aside your worries and travel alone with the Tao which leads to the Country of Great Silence. If someone ties two boats together and then uses them to cross the lake, and he is hit by an empty boat, he won’t be angry, no matter what sort of a temper he has. However, if there is a man in the other boat, he will shout at him to get out of the way! If nothing happens after his initial shout, he yells again and a third time, with a lot of abuse and swearing. To begin with he is not angry, now he is. To start with he had no one to be angry with, now there is someone. If
